Thursday, June 24– At the RDS today, Honorary Life Membership of the Royal Dublin Society was conferred on Dick Ahlstrom and John Oxx.
Since 1981, when Honorary Life Membership was first introduced, the Society has conferred the honour on people who have made a significant contribution to Ireland and Irish life.

Dick Ahlstrom is awarded Honorary Life Membership for his major contribution to the public understanding of science and his promotion of science and science policy in this country through his weekly columns and incisive articles in The Irish Times.

Dick, born in Philadelphia, moved to Ireland in the mid-1970s to study for an MA in Anglo Irish Literature in UCD. He became a freelance journalist in 1979 and joined ‘The Irish Times’ in 1982 as a staff writer.

In 1997 Dick was appointed as ‘The Irish Times’ Science Editor, with the first new weekly ‘Science Today’ appearing in 1998. It should be noted that, what started as a half page piece, within two weeks expanded to a full page, such was the extent of science-related items which, until Dick’s arrival, had largely gone unreported.

He has a unique gift of presenting complex scientific research and technological developments in a form that can be clearly understood by a very wide newspaper audience.

Dick was also involved in the early discussions that led to a revamping of the RDS’s Boyle Medal, which had first been presented in 1899. This ultimately led to the launching of the RDS Irish Times Boyle Medal for Scientific Excellence in 1999.

John Oxx is awarded Honorary Life Membership in recognition of his outstanding professionalism as a trainer of world-class racehorses and his deep understanding and unstinting generosity in helping others in the promotion of one of Ireland’s best-known and valuable industries.

John Oxx, from Co. Kildare, pictured right, is one of Ireland’s most respected and successful trainers. He qualified as a veterinary surgeon in 1973 from University College Dublin. He commenced training as assistant to his well-known and successful father John Oxx Senior. In 1979 he took over the licence on his father’s death and had his first winner Orchestra that year.

In 1990 John Oxx became the Aga Khan’s sole trainer. Together they have enjoyed tremendous success in Ireland and overseas, starting with Manntari, who won the National Stakes at the Curragh in 1993. John also trained noteable horses, Sinndar and Azamour for the Aga Khan and Ridgewood Pearl for Sean Coughlan.

In 2009 John’s famous horse, Sea The Stars, owned by Christopher Tsui, gave John his first win in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and went on to earn a place in racing history by winning six consecutive Group One races, becoming the only horse to complete the 2000 Guineas, Epsom Derby and Arc treble.

Outside of training, John was Chairman of the National Stud for five years (1985-1990); the Irish Racehorse Association (1986-1991; 1993-1996) and currently chairs RACE, the Racing Academy and Centre of Education.

Past recipients of RDS Honorary Life Membership include Samuel Beckett, Ronnie Delany, Prof. Ernest Walton, Brian Friel, Seamus Heaney, Dr Patrick Hillery, Ms Christina Noble and Dr Louis Le Brocquy.

The Royal Dublin Society was founded in 1731 to promote and develop agriculture, arts, science and industry in Ireland.